Baltacha bid ends in heavy defeat
WIMBLEDON
Date: 22 June - 5 July
Elena Baltacha's bid to reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time since 2002 was ended by a comprehensive 7-5 6-1 defeat by Kirsten Flipkens.
Baltacha, the last British woman left in the singles, made a promising start and broke to lead 3-1 early on.
But the 25-year-old's serve faltered and a series of errors at 5-6 let her Belgian opponent snatch the first set.
Flipkens, the world 110, is ranked four places below Baltacha but ran away with the second set to seal a crushing win.
Baltacha's defeat leaves Andy Murray - who plays Ernests Gulbis of Latvia in his second-round match later on Thursday - as the only British survivor from 11 entrants in the singles.
And, in truth, it was a disappointing exit for the Scot, who had beaten Flipkens, 23, in both of their previous meetings and was playing for a chance to take on world number one Dinara Safina.
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Initially, Baltacha's thumping serve put her on top in the blazing sunshine, while Flipkens, a former Junior Wimbledon champion, struggled to find her feet.
A succession of double-faults gave Baltacha the first break at 2-1, and she looked in confident mood as she extended her lead.
But sadly for the British fans who had packed out Court Four, Baltacha's own serve began to let her down and Flipkens was soon level at 3-3.
The first set was still wide open but, at 5-6, the British number two crumbled.
Flipkens looked unsettled by a slip and was feeling her thigh but, instead of taking advantage, Baltacha pressed the self-destruct button.
Two unforced errors - either side of a blistering forehand winner by Flipkens - handed the Belgian two set-points and, although Baltacha saved one, she put a weak forehand into the net on the next rally.
Baltacha had come back from losing the first set to beat world number 33 Alona Bondarenko in the first round but there was to be no repeat of that comeback here.
The match became completely one-sided, and Baltacha's increasingly fragile serve was broken twice as Flipkens raced 5-0 ahead in the second set.
Baltacha did save three match-points before getting on the board but it was only a temporary respite as Flipkens easily served out for the match, sinking to her knees after hitting a delicate drop-shot winner to complete her win in an hour and 17 minutes.
